Magnetic buckle for eyeglasses

ABSTRACT

A magnetic buckling system for holding eyeglasses stored in a pocket or suspended with a piece of clothing material between the buckling elements. The invention uses the natural force between the two poles of magnets to buckle temple bars closed with clothing material between them.

[0001] The present invention relates to an improved frame for eyeglasses. More particularly, it relates to an eyeglass frame with means for buckling and unbuckling the eyeglasses into a pocket or on another portion of a garment being worn by the eyeglass user when the eyeglasses are not in use so as to minimize the possibility that the eyeglasses be misplaced or dropped and damaged.

[0002] Individuals often remove their eyeglasses temporarily. They may put them down and not recall where, they may hang them around their neck where they bounce against their chest, or they may put them in a pocket and have them fall out and/or get damaged.

[0003] Various types of eyeglass frames are known in the art. For example, the prior art teaches using mechanical clasps to clip eyeglasses to a garment worn by the user. These are cumbersome, and, like all mechanical clasps, may come loose, and some depend on the availability of a shirt pocket, a cap visor, belt, holder, straps, or the like.

[0004] The present invention uses a magnetic buckle, thereby eliminating the disadvantages of a mechanical clip while introducing the advantage of a strong, versatile buckle that can be easily opened and closed just about anywhere where the magnetic flux may operate. In addition, the potential beneficial health effects from the magnetic field generated by magnets affixed to eyeglass frames is well known in the art.

[0005] The use of magnets on eyeglass frames is well known in the art. As described above, a number of eyeglass frames have magnets that magnetize the wearer for health benefits. Other eyeglass frames with magnets use magnets to hold eyeglass frame sections together, thereby facilitating disassembly and reassembly in a new configuration, with auxiliary frames, lenses, or the like. Dupraz et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 6,168,273 B11) teaches the use of magnets on eyeglass frames to temporarily affix the eyeglasses on a support article having magnetic means thereon. Since the magnets in U.S. Pat. No. 6,168,273 B11 are attached to the temple bar near the hinges, its teaching cannot be used as a magnetic buckle, nor was it intended as such. The present invention eliminates difficulties associated with using a support article by, in effect, using the eyeglass frame itself as a means for buckling onto any material through which magnetic flux may operate. For example, a separate support article incorporated in clothing would be cumbersome in washers and dryers, difficult to iron, and alter the appearance of the garment whereas the present invention has none of these disadvantages. And unlike mechanical clips that attach to clothing described in the prior art, the present invention is not limited by the requirement that such clips attach to the edge of material. Instead, the magnetic buckle of the present invention attaches anywhere through material so that only a hinged edge of the optical frame is at the edge of the material. Thus, for example, the present invention permits eyeglasses to be buckled more deeply in a pocket, whereas prior art clips require a greater portion of the eyeglasses to protrude outside the pocket. The magnetic buckling action, once engaged at the center of the optical frame, keeps the frame from flopping end-over-end as could happen if the attachment were off-center. Moreover, the eyeglasses, held in a balanced mode, stay attached regardless of the position in which the garment edge is placed.

[0006] This security problem also exists with prior art clips such as the mechanical clip attached to the hinged end of the temple bars disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,017,120. Eyeglasses using such mechanical clips may not be securely held in place when inverted, such as when a person bends over at the waist. Another problem with such clips arises when a person in a sitting position bends forward, and the eyeglasses are pushed upward while clasped inside a shirt pocket. In that situation, the clip may be pushed up from the bottom of the pocket, thereby disengaging the clip and causing the eyeglasses to fall from the pocket. The present invention, with its magnetic buckling action located deeper in the pocket, is less likely to disengage.

[0007] Clips may work well initially, but fatigue can cause metal clips to weaken and lose their ability to hold eyeglasses securely. Moreover, clips can break, thereby causing the eyeglasses to come loose, fall and break or be lost. The magnets used in the present invention are strong enough to keep eyeglasses in place even when the eyeglasses are jarred, and this strength is maintained because the magnetic flux is not diminished by repeated use.

[0008]FIG. 1 illustrates the preferred embodiment of the invention. FIG. 1A illustrates the temple bars extended as when the eyeglasses are worn; FIG. 1B is an unbuckled perspective view with one temple bar folded; FIG. 1C is an unbuckled side view with one temple bar folded, FIG. 1D illustrates the buckled configuration.

[0009]FIG. 2 illustrates the 2-magnet version of the embodiment in FIG. 1. FIG. 2A is a side view of the magnet held in a semiloop in a temple bar, FIG. 2B is a bottom view of FIG. 2A; FIG. 2C is a side view of buckled temple bars with the magnets affixed in a loop in the temple bars; FIG., 2D is a bottom view of FIG. 2C; FIG. 2E illustrates the unbuckled temple bars in FIGS. 2C and 2D.

[0010]FIG. 3 illustrates the 4-magnet version of the embodiment in FIG. 1. FIG. 3A illustrates the temple bars extended as when the eyeglasses are worn; FIG. 3B is a side view of the magnets affixed to a temple bar with shrink tubing; FIG. 3C is a top view of FIG. 3B; FIG. 3D is a top view of the magnets affixed to a temple bar with a small screw, FIG. 3E is a said view of FIG. 3D.

[0011]FIG. 4 illustrates the embodiment in FIG. 1 using a rectangular magnet affixed to each temple bar. FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a temple bar with a rectangular magnet affixed; FIG. 4B is a side view of FIG. 4A; FIG. 4C is a top view of FIG. 4A.

[0012]FIG. 5 illustrates the invention when it is buckled to material.

[0013]FIG. 6 illustrates how the invention buckles eyeglasses to clothing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE MENTION

[0014] The present invention combines the idea of using magnets on eyeglass frames with the idea of using clips on eyeglass frames for temporary storage when eyeglasses are not in use. The result is an extremely strong and versatile magnetic buckling means that may be used to temporarily store eyeglasses just about anywhere where the temple bars of the eyeglass frame may be closed on opposite sides of clothing or any other material through which the magnetic flux may operate. The magnetic buckle used in the present invention has no bulging clasp, no mechanical clip that may fail, and no separate holder to attract the magnet Basically, the temple bars buckle closed with fabric between them, thereby securing the eyeglasses to the fabric. The optical frame may be placed either inside or outside the pocket. In wet weather, the magnetic buckle may be engaged so that the optics are protected inside the garment pocket, with only a temple bar exposed externally. If the pocket is full, the temple bar may be placed in a pocket and magnetically buckled into place with the bulkier optical frame outside the pocket with the other temple bar.

[0015]FIG. 1 illustrates the preferred embodiment of the present invention when it is unbuckled. FIG. 1A illustrates the invention with both temple bars opened, FIG. 1B is a top view with the left temple bar opened and the right temple bar closed, and FIG. 1C is a side view with the left temple bar opened and the right temple bar closed. In FIG. 1, right temple bar 100 and left temple bar 102 are attached to eyeglasses 104 by means well known in the art. When unbuckled, said temple bars form a squared “U” shape as illustrated in FIG. 1k A first magnetic means 106 is attached to temple bar 100, and a second magnetic means 108 is attached to temple bar 102 such that the polarity of magnetic means 106 and 108 directed outside said “U” in FIG. 1A is the same. Magnetic means 106 and 108 are positioned as described above equidistantly on temple bars 100 and 102 such that their position coincides with midpoint 110 of nose piece 112 of optical frame 114. Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 1D, when temple bars 100 and 102 are folded closed, the present invention is buckled by the magnetic attraction created by the opposite poles of magnetic means 106 and 108 as said means come close into contact in the folded eyeglasses. In the preferred embodiment in FIG. 1D left temple bar 102 is folded inside and right temple bar 100 is folded outside. South pole side 116 of magnetic means 106 faces and is centered with north pole side 118 of magnetic means 108, thereby holding the invention securely buckled in the folded conformation.

[0016] The means for attaching magnetic means 106 and 108 to temple bars to temple bars 100 and 102 may depend on the material from which the temple bars are made. Such attachment means for various temple bar materials are well known in the art, and include, for example, grooved means, adhesive means, shrink tubing hinged clips, metal clamps, and threaded hardware, and the like, and/or a combination thereof. In addition magnetic means 106 and 108 and may be protected from corrosion by a number of means well known in the art, including coatings of zinc, nickel copper, gold,

[0017] different colored epoxy, aluminum chromate, and/or different types of paint.

[0018] For example, each magnetic means in FIG. 1 may be a single magnet positioned on each temple bar as described above, or each may be two magnets in magnetic communication positioned on each temple bar.

[0019] The present invention may be sold as eyeglasses or temple bars with magnetic means attached thereto, or as a kit comprising a magnetic means and a means of attaching said magnetic means to temple bars, with or without temple bars or other eyeglass components therein.

[0020]FIG. 2 illustrates two versions of the 2-magnet embodiment of the present invention. In FIGS. 2A (side view) and 2B (bottom view) magnet 200 is attached in semiloop 202 in temple bar 204. In FIG. 2C (buckled side view), FIG. 2D (buckled bottom view) and FIG. 2E (unbuckled view) a first magnet 206 is attached in loop 208 to temple bar 210, and a second magnet 212 is attached in loop 214 of temple bar 216 such that the polarity of magnets 206 and 212 are opposite where said magnets touch in FIGS. 2C and 2D. Thus, in FIGS. 2C and 2D, temple bars 210 and 216 are buckled together by the magnetic attraction created by the opposite poles of magnets 206 and 212. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, temple bars 210 and 216 each have an integral circular frame for holding a magnet such that, when incorporated into optical frame 104 in FIG. 1, the centers of their circular frames coincides with midpoint 110 of nose piece 112. The diameter of said circular frames may be selected to accommodate the diameter of magnets 206 and 212, which may be held in said circular frames by adhesive means, or by other means well known in the ark described above.

[0021] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the 2-magnet embodiment of the present invention may require modification of existing temple bars to accommodate attachment of a magnet thereto such that magnetic attraction between said magnets occurs regardless of which temple bar is closed first. Accordingly, the 2-magnet embodiment, when sold as a kit may comprise two magnets, modified temple bars, and a means of attaching said magnets to said temple bars.

[0022]FIG. 3 illustrates the 4-magnet embodiment of the present invention when it is unbuckled. In FIG. 3A a first magnet 300, a second magnet 302, a third magnet 304 and a fourth magnet 306, are attached to the temple bars 308 and 310 of eyeglasses 312. Magnets 300 and 302 are attached to left temple bar 308 such that north pole side 314 of magnet 300 faces and is centered with south pole side 316 of magnet 302. Similarly, magnet 304 and magnet 306 are attached to right temple bar 310 such that north pole side 318 of magnet 306 faces and is centered with south pole side 320 of magnet 304. As in FIG. 1, magnets 300, 302, 304 and 306 are positioned equidistantly on temple bars 308 and 310 such that their position coincides with midpoint 322 of nose piece 324 of optical frame 326. In FIGS. 3B (side view) and 3C (top view) magnets 300 and 302 are attached to temple bar 308 with shrink tubing 328. However, in FIGS. 3D (top view) and 3E (side view) magnets 304 and 306 are attached to temple bar 310 with screw 330. As described above, various attachment means suitable for the material from which temple bars 308 and 310 is made, are well known in the art.

[0023] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the 4-magnet embodiment of the present invention need not have the temple bars modified for there to be magnetic attraction between each magnetic means regardless of which temple bar is closed first. Thus, when sold as a kit, this embodiment may comprise four magnets and a means of attaching pairs of said magnets to existing temple bars.

[0024]FIG. 4 illustrates the use of rectangular magnets in the 2-magnet embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 4A (perspective view), 4B (side view), and 4C (top view) magnet 400 is attached to left temple bar 402 such that, when incorporated into optical frame 104 in FIG. 1, the position of magnet 400 coincides with midpoint 110 of nose piece 112 when temple bar 402 is closed, and the polarity of magnet 400 is such that said magnet is attracted to magnetic means on temple bar 100 in FIG. 1 when both temple bars are closed.

[0025]FIG. 5 illustrates the preferred embodiment in FIG. 1 when it is buckled with left temple bar 500 folded outside and right temple bar 502 folded inside aand material 504 is sandwiched between said temple bars. In this illustration south pole side 506 of magnetic means 508 faces and is centered with north pole side 510 of magnetic means 512, thereby holding the eyeglasses securely buckled to material 504, which may be any cloth or other material through which magnetic flux may flow.

[0026]FIG. 6 illustrates how the present invention buckles an eyeglass frame to clothing by magnetically buckling it to any portion of a garment material. In FIG. 6, opposite pole magnetic attracting forces emanate from magnetic means 600 and 602 attached to temple bars 604 and 606, respectively, of eyeglasses 608. Buckling is achieved by folding temple bar 606 and sliding said temple bar and optical frame into a pocket, lapel, neck collar, or the like and folding temple bar 604 outside garment 610, thereby buckling said temple bars through garment material 612. Alternatively, buckling may be achieved by sliding either of said temple bars into a pocket, lapel, neck collar, or the like and folding optical frame 614 and the other temple bar outside garment 610, or by folding temple bar 604 and sliding said temple bar and optical frame into garment 610 and folding temple bar 606 outside said garment In the present invention, when temple bars 604 and 606 are folded together either way, the magnets come into exact magnetic attracting alignment, bars yielding sufficient magnetic force between said magnets and through said garment material to remain in a fixed position.

EXAMPLE 1

[0027] The 4-magnet embodiment in FIG. 3 wherein the magnets are MGO grade 35 Neodymium (Nd—Fe—B) disks 0.25″ diameter and 0.1″ thick, and the shrink tubing has an OD of 0.350″ before shrinking and is 0.020″ thick and parallel to the temple bars. The magnets exhibit a field of 4 kG and require a load of 400 gm for unbuckling.

EXAMPLE 2

[0028] The 4-magnet embodiment in FIG. 3 wherein the magnets are MGO grade 35 Neodymium disks 0.25″ diameter and 0.1″ thick, and the shrink tubing has an OD of 0.350″ before shrinking and a wall thickness of 0.010″ and is perpendicular to the temple bars. The magnets exhibit a field of 6 kG and require a load of 600 gm for unbuckling.

[0029] The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention are illustrative and explanatory thereof, and various changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in the details of the illustrated construction may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. 

I claim:
 1. An eyeglass frame comprising: an optical frame with two lens holders connected by a nose piece, a first temple bar hingedly attached to a first end of said optical frame, a second temple bar hingedly attached to a second end of said optical frame, a first magnetic means attached to said first temple bar at a distance from said first end of said optical frame such that said magnetic means is positioned at the midpoint of said nose piece when said first temple bar is folded closed, and a second magnetic means attached to said second temple bar at a distance from said second end of said optical frame such that said magnetic means is positioned at the midpoint of said nose piece when said second temple bar is folded closed and said second magnetic means is in attractive magnetic communication with said first magnetic means when said temple bars are folded closed with said first temple bar folded closed inside said second temple bar.
 2. The eyeglass frame in claim 1 wherein: said first magnetic means comprises a first magnet attached to said first temple bar at a distance from said first end of said optical frame such that said magnet is positioned at the midpoint of said nose piece when said first temple bar is folded closed, and said second magnetic means is a second magnet attached to said second temple bar at a distance from said second end of said optical frame such that said magnet is positioned at the midpoint of said nose piece when said second temple bar is folded closed and said second magnet is in attractive magnetic communication with said first magnet when said temple bars are folded closed with said first temple bar folded closed inside said second temple bar.
 3. The eyeglass frame in claim 1 wherein: said first magnetic means comprises a first magnet attached to said first temple bar at a distance from said first end of said optical frame such that said magnet is on the inside of said first temple bar and positioned at the midpoint of said nose piece when said first temple bar is folded closed, and a second magnet in attractive magnetic communication with said first magnet attached to said temple bar such that said second magnet is centered with said first magnet, and said second magnetic means comprises a third magnet attached to said second temple bar at a distance from said second end of said optical flame such that said magnet is on the inside and positioned at the midpoint of said nose piece when said second temple bar is folded closed and said third magnet is in attractive magnetic communication with said first magnet when said temple bars are folded closed with said first temple bar folded closed inside said second temple bar, and a fourth magnet in attractive magnetic communication with said third magnet attached to said second temple bar such that said fourth magnet is centered with said third magnet.
 4. The eyeglass frame in claim 1 wherein said magnetic means are attached to said temple bars with an adhesive and held in place with shrink wrapped tubing.
 5. The eyeglass frame in claim 1 wherein said magnetic means are attached to said temple bars with a screw.
 6. The eyeglass frame in claim 1 wherein said magnetic means are attached to said temple bars in circular frames.
 7. The eyeglass frame in claim 6 wherein said circular frames are loops in said temple bars.
 8. The eyeglass frame in claim 6 wherein said circular frames are semiloops in said temple bars.
 9. The eyeglass frame in claim 4 wherein said tubing is 0.020″ thick and 0.350″ OD before shrinking.
 10. A buckle comprising the eyeglass frame in claim 1 wherein said first temple bar is folded onto the back of said optical frame, and said second temple bar is folded onto said first temple bar with cloth between said first magnetic means and said second magnetic means, and said first and third magnetic means are in attractive magnetic force with each other.
 11. The eyeglass frame in claim 3 wherein said magnets are MGO grade 35 Neodymium disks.
 12. The eyeglass frame in claim 1 wherein said magnetic means are covered with a coating to prevent rust.
 13. The eyeglass frame in claim 1 wherein said temple bars are attached in grooves in said magnetic means to said magnetic means.
 14. A kit for converting ordinary eyeglasses to the invention in claim 1 comprising two magnetic means, and a means for attaching each of said magnetic means to a temple bar.
 15. The kit in claim 14 wherein said magnetic means is a magnet.
 16. The kit in claim 14 containing in addition two temple bars modified for attachment of said magnetic means thereof.
 17. The kit in claim 14 wherein said magnetic means is two magnets. 